Constance Bennett

Constance Campbell Bennett ( born October 22, 1904 in New York City, New York, † July 24, 1965 in Fort Dix, New Jersey) was an American actress.

Life

Bennett comes from a family of actors, which can be traced back to the 18th century. Her father was the then famous stage star Richard Bennett, her mother Adrienne Morris also had a career in theater. Together with her ​​younger sisters Joan Bennett and Barbara Bennett accompanied Constance parents often toured through the United States. All three sisters played in 1916 in the movie The Valley of Decision, next to her father on parts.

Constance was educated in exclusive private schools in New York and Paris. Known early on for their impulsiveness and willpower, she eloped with 16 on the side of a millionaire through, but the marriage was later annulled. Shortly thereafter, she made ​​her screen debut and quickly became a popular silent film actress. She had her breakthrough in 1925 through participation in The Goose Women, next to Jack Pickford and Sally, Irene and Mary, who showed alongside Joan Crawford. During the shooting of this film, she became friends with Irving Thalberg, who would have gladly taken it at that time for MGM under contract. Another budding producer, David O. Selznick was since then also to their good friends. But as early as 1926 Bennett married a railroad heir and led a luxurious life in the jet set. After the divorce in 1929 and a cash payment of $ 500,000 Bennett returned to Hollywood, this time under contract by Pathe. Your slightly rough voice and her image as an elegant lady of good society helped her to be within one year of the studio 's biggest star. Achievements in This Thing Called Love, and especially Common Clay, coupled with excellent business acumen helped Bennett to become the highest-paid star of the time. They negotiated, among other things, that they could turn on their own account during their holiday films. Demanded at the height of her career in 1931 and got them from Warner Brothers for the participation in Bought, who was next to her father Richard Bennett, a week salary of $ 30,000 in guaranteed six weeks work. The shooting was actually completed in less than two weeks. Similarly high salaries they negotiated from MGM, as she stood there for The Easiest Way in front of the camera. The young Clark Gable had a small supporting role in the financially successful film. In 1932 she got from her home studio a total of $ 350,000 which must be added $ 150,000 came, they negotiated for her role in Two Against the World by Warner Brothers.

Bennett's screen image was that of an elegant, feisty woman who does not can be beaten by adverse circumstances. Often she was seen at the beginning of the films as unwed mother who got an attractive husband in the course of the story. The was usually played by Joel McCrea, with whom she had an affair private. Her most famous film, she turned in 1932, directed by George Cukor: What Price Hollywood, which depicts the story of a waitress who is in a relationship with a once famous, but now alcoholic movie star?. The story was titled A star is born on 1937 new film starring Janet Gaynor in the lead role. At the same time it was stylized as best-dressed woman in the world from the studio audience, or as it announced a slogan: Constance Bennett is without a rival as the fashion arbiter of the civilized world.

After Pathé was merged with other companies for the RKO, the status of Bennett of aspiring actresses like Ann Harding, Irene Dunne and Katharine Hepburn was particularly vulnerable. After the departure of Selznick her contract in 1933 was therefore not extended. An attempt to remain in the longer term as a star at MGM, failed to Bennetts sometimes haughty Art Neither the movies Outcast Lady, a remake of A Woman of Affairs or two like cats and dogs, in which it was announced on the movie posters by Clark Gable, helped her new popularity. A half-hearted comeback on the side of Cary Grant in Topper - The blond ghost does not lead to a lasting stabilization. Your last known role was in 1941 as a supporting actress in Two Faced Woman, the film that ended the film career of Greta Garbo forever.

In her last film role was in 1966 as Bennett malicious mother of Lana Turner to see in the remake of Madame X after Myrna Loy and Kay Francis had refused the role. The film was released posthumously in the rental. She died on 24 July 1965 at the age of 60 years from the effects of a brain hemorrhage. Their final resting place is at Arlington National Cemetery. The five husbands of the actress were Henri de La Falaise, the ex- husband of Gloria Swanson and Gilbert Roland, with whom she had a year-long, stormy relationship.

Bennett was one of the very few stars in Hollywood, which is reporting the gossip reporter Hedda Hopper did not like and constantly responded with actions for false reports. Both women lived in decades of dispute.

Filmography (selection)

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